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CHAPTER VII.

GENERAL GRANT VISITS

GLASGOW-AYR-NEWCASTLE-
UPON-TYNE-DEMONSTRATION ON THE TOWN MOOR-
BANQUETING AT BIRMINGHAM-A VISIT TO BRIGHTON
EN ROUTE FOR PARIS-INCIDENTS BY THE WAY—
A HEARTY WELCOME-A CALL UPON MARSHAL MAC-
MAHON AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW - THE
"FI-

GARO'S" REPORT.

On the 13th of September, 1877, General Grant was honored with the freedom of the City of Glasgow. Replying to the address of the Lord Provost he said he would ever remember the day, and when back in America would refer with pride to his visit to Glasgow. He was so much a citizen of Scotland that it would be a serious question where he would vote. He thanked the Lord Provost for his kind words, and the audience for its welcome. The parchment was contained in a gold casket. The ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd, and the General was enthusiastically cheered. A banquet in his honor was given in the evening, but was of a private character.

On the next day he was presented with the freedom of the burgh of Ayr. In returning thanks for so distinguished an honor, General Grant expressed the pleasure gave him to form so close a connection with the land and home of Burns.

it

On Thursday, the 20th, General Grant and party visited Newcastle-on-Tyne, where they were warmly welcomed, and became the guests of the Mayor. Next morning General and Mrs. Grant, accompanied by the Mayor of Newcastle, General Badeau, Mr. Fairchild, the United

States Consul at Newcastle and others, visited the Exchange and other places of interest in the city. Their route was marked by a great display of banners and by large crowds of spectators.

In the Exchange General Grant received an address from the Chamber of Commerce, and, replying, thanked the large and enthusiastic audience for its kind reception,

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which was highly gratifying to him and the American people, who would accept it as a token of kind friendship between the two nations-he could not say two people, for they were really one, having a common destiny, which would be brilliant in proportion to their friendship. He

referred to the honorable settlement of all differences between England and America, and said they ought not only keep peace with each other but with all the world, and by their example stop the wars that are now devastating Europe.

The speech was loudly cheered. General Grant and the corporation then proceeded down the Tyne in a steamer, which was saluted with guns from almost every factory on the banks, every available spot on which was crowded with people. General Grant and party stood on the bridge of the steamer during the greater part of the voyage, bowing in response to repeated cheers.

The steamer stopped at Jarrow and Tynemouth, at both of which places the municipal authorities presented most cordial addresses. The ceremony was witnessed by large and enthusiastic crowds. General Grant made suitable replies, of similar tenor to his Newcastle speech. At Tynemouth he said he had that day seen one hundred and fifty thousand people leave their homes and occupations to manifest friendship to America. The ex-President held a reception at Newcastle in the evening.

On Saturday a visit was paid to the Elswick Ordnance Works, and addresses received. In the afternoon there was a great demonstration of the workmen of Northumberland and Durham on the town moor of Newcastle. Twenty-two trades participated in the procession, which occupied twenty minutes passing a given point. The number of spectators present was estimated at from forty to fifty thousand. The demonstration far surpassed any which had occurred since the great political meetings of the Reform Agitation. Mr. Thomas Burt, member of Parliament for Morpeth, presented an eulogistic address to General Grant, who said he thanked the workingmen for their very welcome address and thought this reception was the most honorable he could meet with.

Alluding to what Mr. Burt had said concerning the late civil war, General Grant declared he had always been an advocate of peace, but when war was declared he went to the war for the cause which he believed to be right and fought to his best ability to secure peace and safety to his nation. In regard to the relations between America and England, the General said that friendship now existed between the two countries, which he fully believed was increasing, and which would, in common with industry and civilization, increase in the future.

Mr. Fairchild, United States Consul at Liverpool, in a brief speech bore testimony to the gratification of the American people at the reception of the ex-President in England. General Grant on his departure from the moor was enthusiastically cheered.

On the same day the Mayor and Town Council of Gateshead, presented the ex-President with a congratulatory address. General Grant expressed pleasure at his enthusiastic reception in all the towns of the North of England, and said he was glad the good feeling between England and America was warmer to-day than it had ever been.

A banquet was given in honor of General Grant in the evening, by the Mayor of Newcastle. In response to a toast to his health, the General said his reception in Newcastle exceeded anything he had expected, and had been the warmest and best he had had or could have had.

On Wednesday evening, October 17th, General Grant was entertained at a banquet in Birmingham; the Mayor presided. A letter was read from Hon. John Bright, regretting his inability to be present, but expressing confidence that so distinguished a visitor would receive such a reception as would show him how much Birmingham was in sympathy with him and his country.

According to ancient custom and the established usage, the health of the Queen was proposed and drunk; after which the Mayor proposed that of the President of the United States as a potentate whom all should honor. After this had been duly acknowledged by the company, Mr. Chamberlain, M. P. for Birmingham, proposed the health of General Grant in a happy speech, complimentary to the honored guest and his countrymen.

General Grant, in response, referring to the last speaker's allusion to the prompt disbandment of the army after the civil war, said:-"We Americans claim so much personal independence and general intelligence, that I do not believe it possible for one man to assume any more authority than the constitution and laws give him.” As to the remarks that had been made as to the benefits which would accrue to America by the establishment of free trade, the General said he had a kind of recollection that England herself had a protective tariff until her manufactures were established. American manufactures were rapidly progressing, and America was thus becoming a great free trade nation.

When the laughter which these words provoked had subsided, the General warmly thanked the company for the reception they had given him.

A few days later General Grant paid a visit to Brighton, and was the guest of Commodore Ashbury, the well-known yachtman. After an interesting visit, he returned to London, and began preparation for his departure for the French capital.

On the 24th of October, accompanied by his wife and son, General Grant left London for Paris. On the arrival of the General and party at the railway station in Charing Cross, to take the train for Folkestone, he was greeted by a large crowd of Americans and Englishmen, who gave

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